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Moving to a new home in a new place can be one of the most stressful experiences you may encounter in your life, especially if you are moving across the country. There are a lot of things to do like taking all your financial, medical, academic and work-related records with you and finding movers to hire who will hail your stuff anywhere. There are a lot of cross country movers that you can trust but you should take caution when you are first dealing with several of them. Here are some steps and what to consider when choosing the most trustworthy and reliable moving company to handle your relocation especially if it’s cross country.
Always Check for Insurance and Licenses
You need to ensure that the company has the proper license to drive across the country. If you did not do a proper background check you might find yourself stuck in endless drama that accompanies scams that can take place when relocating. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to avoid these scams like by checking with the Department of Transportation( US DOT) to see if the company has a number in their database. You will also see in the database if there are complaints recorded and other important info on a moving company. Check to see if the company has insurance in place and if the insurance covers all your furniture and things in case there are damages. Proper insurance is very important especially if a long-distance move is involved. Mishaps and accidents can happen along the way even with the best of movers and insurance acts as a safety net in cases where there are liabilities during and after the moving process. Know more about moving insurance here!
Read Reviews
You need to check the complaints about the company in the US Department of Transportation’s database. Read as many reviews as possible so that you can get a good grasp on how the movers are at performing the work. You can visit their websites, social media platforms and forums to know what their previous clients are saying about them. There are reviews that you can check on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as ratings to see where the company stands. If you have furniture that you need to store check if the movers are associated with the American Moving & Storage Association just to be on the safe side.
Ask for Recommendations
A word from a trusted friend family member can be a great way to discover high-quality professional movers near your place. You should not hesitate when asking your friend who has previously relocated to see how her experience with moving using that company was. Most people are happy to share their experiences and when they encounter unprofessional movers expect that you will get a detailed description of what happened. You can also try to find suggestions and reviews from your community as well through google or Facebook.
Get a Good Look at your Inventory
Getting quotes online without the movers having a good look at your inventory may cause extra fees during the relocation. If you have lots of belongings the movers can provide you with a price quote based on the total weight of your entire household like furniture items, appliances and even cardboard boxes. A quote over the phone or on the internet can be a red flag because a trusted company will send their employees out to your location to get a good look at your things. You should get an accurate quote after the inspection which should be itemized and in writing and will include the equivalent costs.
Ask if there are Subcontractors Involved
There are interstate moving companies that will hire contractors or third-party movers to relocate your things from one country to another. As much as possible choose a company that will pick up, transport and deliver all your things themselves. They should not hire subcontractors to do whole or part of the moving process because most of the time subcontractors are not covered by insurance. If anything happens to your belongings you may not get compensated with damages if the subcontractors are handling the move. Find a company that does not subcontract and will make your life easier. Read more about subcontractors here.
Assess their Experience and Professionalism
The company and its employees should have plenty of experience in moving heavy furniture and have a good reputation for not breaking or losing things during the moving process. They should have a brick-and-mortar office that you can go to check them out with business cards, a professional websites, staff and a customer service department that can handle all your inquiries. During the move ask questions while the movers are doing their job abut their previous experience with townhouses, small doorways or high-rise apartment buildings. An experienced mover can maneuver easily on narrow staircases and landings and can handle parking limitations without hassle on your part.
Additional Notes on Cross Country Moving
When moving to a new country or across one you may just want to take the flight to your new home and wait for your items to arrive. You can be free from the stress of transferring heavy furniture from your home to the truck if you have movers who can do this for you. Give a full description of your new address and call the drivers to check with them from time to time during the move.
Start finding a reputable moving company today. Contact five or six companies and tell them what you need by providing them the date when you are relocating, your new address, your budget and all other information that they need. They can let you know if they have drivers that are qualified to do it and whether they can handle several large pieces of furniture on long journeys. Call one of them today and make your life easier.
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